Andrews’ song, titled “Presiden Soekarno”, is an epic rap ballad about Indonesia’s first president and founding father, tracing his biography in lyrical form. It won the Wild Card Category in the 2016 National Australia Indonesia Language Awards for best original performance in Bahasa Indonesia by a non-native speaker and has since become a hit in Indonesia.

A Bridge Over Troubled Water Between Indonesia and Australia

Nicholas Mark, president of the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA), too advocates for renewed efforts in creating person-to-person bonds to forge more productive channels of communication between Indonesia and Australia.

“We believe that one of the most important aspects of the bilateral relationship is the strength of the people-to-people links between youth,” Mark said on Thursday.The Jakarta Globe, June 18

2014

Cheaper Bali holidays, but not better ties

The Australia-Indonesia Youth Association’s (AIYA) 2014 member survey of 500 young Australians and Indonesians found that the biggest barrier inhibiting more young people from travelling to either country was visa procedures.

Survey participants were not referring to tourist visas, but rather the cumbersome process for getting a visa to work and study in Indonesia for any length of time.Jakarta Post, November 16

2013

Interest in Indonesia

Australians’ ignorance about Indonesia “disgracefully exploited”

Indonesia featured prominently in Australia’s election campaign and it is the foreign policy focus of the new Coalition Government in Canberra.Karen Barlow, October 18

Jakarta plan faces challenges as Aussie interns fail to take up visas

At Thursday night’s seminar, run by the consulate and the professional group the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association, immigration attache Haryono Agus said part of the problem was that not all Indonesian officials were familiar with the new visa scheme.Bernard Lane, September 21

Young People Key in Making Australia-Indonesia Ties Prosper

For the Australia-Indonesia relationship to prosper in the Asian Century, young people from both countries must play a role. Strong people-to-people links at the youth level are vital to the future of our bilateral relations.

Luckily, a small cadre of culturally aware, bilaterally engaged youth already exist, and their efforts are helping to maintain and strengthen this critical relationship. But more must be done.Bede Moore, July 23

Australia, Indonesia Build Relations From the Ground Up

Bede Moore, director of Indonesian operations for the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association, said he hoped an accessible working holiday visa would be made available.

“The biggest difficulty for us is having some sort of flexible visa that you can easily apply [for] so that you can come and work up here,” he said.

“From my understanding, there is a working visa that you can have for both Australia and Indonesia that’s already been agreed on, but people are struggling to get access to that.”Daniella White, February 17

Visa obstacle to business forays in Indonesia

A SURVEY of young professionals with an interest in careers in Indonesia has found just three who had succeeded in getting a working holiday visa.

Confusion about visas and limits on work rights stand in the way of closer business links with Indonesia’s fast growing economy, according to the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association.Bernard Lane, April 25

Talking it Out: Indonesia and Australia Discuss People Problems

Person-to-person ties are a second-tier priority for the Australian and Indonesian governments, who place greater emphasis on security threats and development assistance. Yet, the policies of both governments play a major role in encouraging or discouraging our relationship.

Both governments need to address some of these “low-hanging” policy issues to create a future relationship that is not just a reaction to the latest drug-related criminal case. This relationship should be insulated against high-profile events because it is based on mutual respect and understanding.Rachelle Cole and Arjuna Dibley, July 4

2011

Lift barriers of young RI-Aussie ties

If the Australia-Indonesia relationship is to improve, it is crucial that Australian young people engage with Indonesia in a meaningful way.

Providing an easily accessible visa scheme is crucial to ensure that it is young Australians who have spent time in Indonesia working and studying, not those who have merely been caught up in drug-scandals in Bali, who dominate the discussion on the relationship.Rachelle Cole, October 12

Finding a place in the Asian century

FE Donaghue trained for the much-hyped Asian century. Like others emerging from Indonesian studies into the job market, she was in for a surprise.

“We found it tough to connect up with job opportunities that appeared to exist overseas, particularly in Jakarta,” she says.Bernard Lane, November 30

Last Updated 19th July 2017.

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